Protective panel and method of manufacture and use

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and system involving the use of a panel for protecting fenestrations in buildings such as windows and doors, from damage caused by storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, riots, and the like. Embodiments of the present invention include a substrate panel attached to a security film providing increased protection against wind-driven missiles associated with high winds with decreased weight and mitigating improper installation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protective panel comprising:
 a first translucent substrate panel comprising a fluted polypropylene construction, the substrate panel having a first side and a second side; 
 a first security film having a first side attached to the first side of the substrate panel by a first adhesive layer disposed therebetween, wherein the first security film comprises one of polyester or polyethylene terephthalate; 
 a cutting guide visible from the first side of the substrate panel; 
 wherein the protective panel is configured to be affixed over one of a door or window of a building structure with the second side of the substrate panel toward the building structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The protective panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a border visible from the external aspect of the protective panel having a width extending from extents of the protective panel,
 wherein the border indicates an area inset from the extents of the protective panel in which fasteners should not be placed. 
 
     
     
       3. The protective panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforced area adjacent to extents of the protective panel. 
     
     
       4. The protective panel of  claim 1 , further comprising printed matter visible from an external aspect of the protective panel, wherein the printed matter comprises at least one of installation instructions or code compliance information. 
     
     
       5. The protective panel of  claim 1 , further comprising integrated lighting. 
     
     
       6. The protective panel of  claim 5 , wherein the integrated lighting comprises a luminescent compound. 
     
     
       7. A protective panel comprising:
 a first translucent substrate panel having a first side and a second side; 
 a first security film having a first side interconnected to the second side of the first substrate panel; 
 a second substrate panel having a first side attached to a second side of the first security film; 
 a cutting guide visible from the first side of the first substrate panel; 
 wherein the protective panel is configured to be affixed to a structure with the second side of the second substrate panel toward the structure. 
 
     
     
       8. The protective panel of  claim 7 , wherein the substrate panels and the first security film have adhesive layers disposed therebetween. 
     
     
       9. The protective panel of  claim 7 , further comprising a border visible from the external aspect of the protective panel having a width extending from extents of the protective panel,
 wherein the border indicates an area of the protective panel in which fasteners should not be placed. 
 
     
     
       10. The protective panel of  claim 7 , further comprising a reinforced area adjacent to the extents of the protective panel. 
     
     
       11. The protective panel of  claim 7 , further comprising printed matter visible from an external aspect of the protective panel, wherein the printed matter comprises at least one of installation instructions or code compliance information. 
     
     
       12. The protective panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a second security film having a first side attached to the second side of the first substrate panel. 
     
     
       13. The protective panel of  claim 12 , wherein the security films and the first substrate panel have adhesive layers disposed therebetween. 
     
     
       14. The protective panel of  claim 12 , further comprising a border visible from the external aspect of the protective panel having a width extending from extents of the protective panel,
 wherein the border indicates an area of the protective panel in which fasteners should not be placed. 
 
     
     
       15. The protective panel of  claim 14 , further comprising a reinforced area adjacent to the extents of the protective panel. 
     
     
       16. The protective panel of  claim 1 , further comprising printed matter visible from an external aspect of the protective panel, wherein the printed matter comprises at least one of installation instructions or code compliance information. 
     
     
       17. A protective panel comprising:
 a translucent substrate panel comprising a fluted polypropylene construction, the substrate panel having a first side and a second side; 
 a translucent security film having a first side and a second side, the first side of the security film interconnected to the first side of the substrate panel; 
 a cutting guide visible from the second side of the security film; 
 printed matter visible from the second side of the security film, wherein the printed matter comprises at least one of installation instructions of the protective panel or code requirements met by the protective panel; and 
 a border extending about 2.54 cm (1 in.) inward from the extents of the protective panel, 
 wherein the protective panel is configured to be affixed to a structure by fasteners disposed through the panel and into the structure, and wherein the fasteners do not perforate the border, with the second side of the substrate panel facing toward the structure. 
 
     
     
       18. The protective panel of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second substrate panels comprise a fluted polypropylene construction.